Unfriendly Flora
by magnus

Comment:
Greets from the Critique club:

Hi Magnus!

For this me, this picture lacks wow factor. It's certainly different than most in this challenge and I like it for that. It's also a very simple composition - branch running diagonally and blurry background. That's also good in my book. What I don't like is that the this is soft or that the focus is lacking.. I want to see sharp pointy things, not suggestions of sharp pointy things! Also the shot seems strangely colorless. That may be due to the very plain background - probably not much you can do about that though! Too nitpick, I don't really like the positioning of that one thorn in the middle, I think it's just a bit too centered. Maybe a slightly different crop would have allieveated that?

Good job and good luck!
-Matt

carrying your house on your back
by nanosmurf

Comment:
I think this would have been better in color -- as it stands now it is far too busy for B&W. There's just not enough contrast between your subject and background. 5

A Tornado did this
by STEINR

Comment:
Greets from the Critique Club!

Initial Impression:
Interesting, though uninspiring due to the lighting.

Challenge:
This meets the challenge through the combination of image and title. I wish I could see the connection between the pic and the challenge without the title, but with this subject it's rather hard.

Composition:
Placing the barn where you did in the picture is a good idea though I would have liked it more if it was on the other side of the frame (Leaning into the picture as opposed to out of the picture).

Technical:
This is my biggest complaint - the lighting is fairly flat and pretty uninspiring. The midday sun is harsh on subjects and here it's no exception. Early morning or late afternoon sunlight is often the best to work with. My other complaint is the focus feels rather soft.

Overall:
Solid idea, technical issues let you down. You should go back to the same location near sunset or sunrise and take some more photographs.. this is an interesting subject! Show it off!

Single Swan a'Swimming
by ruthiek

Comment:
Nice lighiting and stop action. The little bit of red in the reflection is particularly effective. Good job!

Fauna reflection
by BJ

Comment:
The main subject here feels isolated. I think cropping about half the foreground out would have been a good thing. Good reflections and understated use of colours!

Wild Flowers
by rcrawford

Comment:
Interesting coloration. Is this real or has the hue been shifted? Either way, good score.

Eye to Eye
by sher

Comment:
I didn't get the title at first glance! Now I do. I love the positioning of the frog on the statue and within the frame. What a lovely capture!

Rain, Heavy At Times...
by basia03

Comment:
Greets from the Critique Club!

Initial Impression:
A plethora of blue, neat idea. Missing something.

Challenge:
This meets the challenge perfectly in my opinion.

Composition:
There's not much to say here, I think you've done well for your subject matter. Maybe cropping out the top third would have made it a bit more digestable to the eye, but I think that's personal preference.

Technical:
The blue is definitely there and it serves to invoke a melencholy mood. I would like to see a little more contrast to darken the tree branches up, but not too much.

Overall:
Good weather shot, definitely suits the challenge and stirs emotion in me. Good job.

Strawberry Cream Savers
by rj324

Comment:
Greets from the Critique Club!

Hi Ray,

Initial Impression:
Orangish, interesting patterns and textures.

Challenge:
It meets the challenge well.

Composition:
Sound, if just a bit uninspiring. I'm not really sure how it could be made better though..

Technical:
As I mentioned in my initial impressions, this is just a bit too orange. It diminishes the impact of the candy ever so slightly and makes it a bit unappetizing to me. I really like the lighting.. it's well done and shows off the texture of the candies nicely. Good Job!

Overall:
I like this photo, it shows off the candy in an appealing manner. Good job!

Dandy Lion
by LanSnake

Comment:
Wow... dandelions have never looked this good! What a great shot. I like the frame filling crop, it really works for this shot. 9